What does the perfect body really look like and who has the ultimate say over what this body does and doesn’t look like?
August 22, 2021
Written By: Coach Larissa How we view our bodies and whether we like or dislike them is always a scary and dangerous place to take yourself. Body image is something most of the population struggles with and most don’t even know that there is NO SUCH THING AS THE PERFECT BODY! Yes I said it!
How can we place perfection on a living thing?
The crazy thing to me is that we have let the media tell us what is or isn’t beautiful when it comes to human bodies.
There are no two human bodies made a like and no one is really identical.
Even identical twins have some differences so they can’t even be compared.
So why do we compare ourselves to others?
This is something that is inadvertently learned from birth and is hard to be unprogrammed from repeatedly being projected onto ourselves. For most of us, we have no idea how to stop looking in the mirror and picking and prodding all the things that we don’t like about what we see reflected back at yourselves.
Some even feel that it is socially acceptable to point out things that they believe other people need to do better with or that they need to change and make what they think we should feel or look like a reality. This is beyond inappropriate and should not be the way we socialize with others.
Instead we should be uplifting one another and telling the things we admire or adore about what that other and who they are as an individual!
The most important thing you need to know is that you are beautiful in your own way. You are your own self and know one is the same as you. You have your very own body perfection and no one can take that away from you.
Do what makes you happy and live life the way you want to.
Workout if YOU want to, eat how YOU want to, build as much or as little muscle as YOU want to. Life is about living it for what you want it to be and building that way of living that is going to aid you in your own way of life.
Don’t let anyone tell you how you should look and feel.
The only person that can make that form of judgement is yourself, after all - it is your body!
Sometimes you need a reminder that negative comments about your body aren’t even really about your body, they’re about society and our society’s wrongheaded and impossibly narrow definition of a “good” body. Your body didn’t do anything wrong. What’s messed up about your body is not your body at all, but that your body has to live in a society that thinks it has a right to say mean and messed up things about your body.
I still to this day struggle with my body image and what I do or don’t like about myself. This is a work in progress for myself and I know that by doing what I love and being happy is what truly counts the most. By looking after myself, putting in the time to workout and eat right and ultimately being the happiest I can be. That’s what makes me happy with my body image. I am proud of the rolls, stretch marks, scars, and the muscles!
This body of mine has lifted many heavy things, given life, has carried myself and son places, gives loved ones a place to receive love and support, and is now going to muscle its way through the rest of my LIFE!
Are you ready to change the way you think and feel about your body? Email me at larissa@degreefitnessseaforth.com
today to book your Free No Sweat Intro and for more information on how I can help you on your health and fitness journey!
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian Snacking causes a lot of worry for many people! Is snacking bad? When should we be snacking? What's the best snack? Snacking itself isn't a bad habit, unless it's not aligned with your health and fitness goals. Snacks can actually do a lot of good to keep our energy levels up throughout the day and help meet our nutrition needs. Let's check out four ways you can improve your snacking habits! 1. Think about why! If you're concerned about whether your snacks are a problem, it's worth thinking about why you're snacking. Are you hungry between meals? Do you need some fuel before or after a workout? Are you bored at work in the afternoon or need a pick-me-up? Do you need something to do with your hands while watching tv? Are you starving at the end of the day when you get home before you have a chance to make dinner? Snacks serve lots of purposes, from keeping our energy stable during the day, to meeting emotional needs. If you don't feel good about why you're snacking, it might be time to find some other way to meet that need. 2. Plan for your snacks! Often, we may know we need a snack, but not be able to make a healthy choice about it because we're too busy or just too hungry. A little planning goes a long way! Planning ahead for these times can help us make choices that align with our goals, and have something at the ready before we're too hungry to make that healthy choice. Pack a snack or have one at the ready during the times of day or situations when you know you'll need it. 3. Make them satisfying! If a snack isn't satisfying, we'll be reaching for something else soon. For longer lasting energy, choose snacks that have a combination of protein and carbs. This might include yogurt with berries, a higher protein granola bar, crackers and veggies with hummus, or even a couple handfuls of trail mix. If you find yourself finishing your snack without even noticing what you've eaten, try taking a minute to eat more mindfully and focus on your food. This will help you feel more satisfied with it! 4. Fill your nutrition gaps! Snacks are another opportunity to add nutrition to your day. Are there specific foods you're trying to add more of to your diet? Are there nutrients you feel you may be lacking? Use snacks as a way to add these in. If you're concerned about protein, try adding canned tuna, hardboiled eggs, or Greek yogurt to your snacks. If you feel you're lacking vegetables or fruit, include at least one in your snack. If you're trying to include more plant-based proteins, lean on bean-based dips or try roasted chickpeas. The options are endless! Remember, snacking isn't good or bad, and can serve a lot of different purposes. Try using these tips to help your snacking align better with your health and fitness goals! Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more information about our Nutrition Programs, or click HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian As a Dietitian, I work with a lot of different people. One common thread is that we talk about excuses. So many people come in to a nutrition consultation and tell me about their challenges with nutrition and fitness, and then follow it up by saying something along the lines of "I know these are just excuses, I can do better". The things we often consider excuses can include having a busy job and a busy family life. Working weird hours. Struggling with the cost of groceries. Caring for loved ones. Managing health concerns, chronic diseases, or injuries. The list goes on. For my nutrition clients, I rarely consider any of these things to be excuses. It's not an excuse that you can't eat well because you work long hours and then take your kids to their sports practices - these are very real reasons why you're struggling to make healthy choices. It's not an excuse if you work nights and need to get some sleep so you didn't make it to the gym - it's as aspect of your life that makes getting enough exercise challenging. Think about the things you might consider to be your excuses for not "doing better" with your health and fitness. Are they really just parts of your life or the season you're currently in? None of these things should be making you feel bad or like you're making excuses. But on the flip side, these reasons also don't mean we need to throw in the towel on our goals entirely. They mean we might need to get a bit creative, decide what's really important to us right now, and ask for help when we need it! Instead of feeling bad about your "excuses" that aren't really excuses, it might be time to find some new ideas. Working with a Dietitian can be a great way to figure out what's actually important in your health and fitness goals, and come up with some new ideas to get you there. There are always steps we can take in the right direction to move past those "excuses" and work together for a happier and healthier you! Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more information about our Nutrition Programs, or click HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!
Written By: Coach Kelly Have you heard... "You’re too old, you’re too tired, you’re too X Y Z" to workout? WRONG! Did you know that the more you move, the less likely you are to experience injuries? The less likely you are to trip, slip or fall. If these things happen, you are less likely to be severely injured. We’ve worked with many different people over the almost 10 years that Degree has been around; hip replacements, knee replacements, strokes, members that experienced an injury outside of the gym but still came to class, etc. We often put ourselves in a box that “I can’t because…”. But, is that true? What if you just tried? Moving keeps us healthy and independent; movement also promotes recovery when done appropriately. So, how do you stick to a fitness routine? Why does it matter? And believe me, it really, really does matter. Keep it simple. I saw the most changes in my fitness/health when I ate well and exercised regularly. I didn't starve myself, I didn’t do any low fat things, I didn’t have to take any extra supplements. I just ate well, trusted the process and moved my body. Now, keep in mind things are different for me than they were 3 years ago; I have a 14 month old and a 3 year old at home. Am I tired? Yep! Do I always get a full nights sleep? Nope, never. Do I have more stress now than then? 100%. However, my why stays true. I want to grow old with power and strength. I want to keep up with my boys and beat them in races as long as I can. I don’t want to be at the Doctors office all the time (even though our local Docs are amazing!). I don’t want to be at the mercy of someone else for my own health. You have the amazing opportunity to keep moving. You have friends, family, jobs, groups and an entire world that wants you to feel good. To feel happy, healthy, strong, and not question if you can go for the bike ride, or be scared to take the stairs. The next best thing you can do if you’re stuck? Ask for help. When our cars break down we take them to the mechanic. When we need a teeth cleaning we go to the Dentist. When we have a tax question we go to the accountant. The world is saturated with health and fitness fads - most of which isn't always the best. Ask for help - Talk to a Coach that can help you leaf through what Google is telling you to find out what will actually work for you, and help you create a habit that works. Ready to get started? Email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com or call/text 519-441-7492!